[To approve the purchase of small sites for new council build housing]

1.     That the purchase of the Former Methodist Church site, Kempthorne Avenue, Low Hill and the development of several smaller sites within the Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board (BHEMB) boundary for new build council housing be approved.

2.     That the expenditure of an estimated £325,000 to fund the proposed acquisition and development works, using Housing Revenue Account capital funds, combined with proposed bidding for Community Housing Fund grant from Homes England be approved.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Service Director of City Housing, to agree the details of the proposed site acquisition costs and development, along with all ancillary legal agreements and contracts.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Service Director of City Housing, to substitute alternative sites within the Estate Management Board area should more viable options be identified.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the report which sought approval to the purchase of former Methodist Church site on Kempthorne Avenue, Low Hill and the development of the site for new build council housing. Smaller sites within the Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board (BHEMB) boundary area were also proposed to be considered for new build council housing following further site surveys being undertaken to assess each sites viability for development.

The proposal to acquire the former Methodist Church site would ensure that the site was developed within an agreed timescale providing much needed affordable housing units within the area and bringing back into use an area of land that suffers from issues of fly tipping on the site. The other smaller sites to be included within the Community Housing Fund bid will make better use of properties with larger garden areas to their side boundaries which tenants find difficult to maintain and have a negative appearance on the wider estate. This would also increase the numbers of affordable units for BHEMB to manage. 

Resolved:

1.    That the purchase of the Former Methodist Church site, Kempthorne Avenue, Low Hill and the development of several smaller sites within the Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board (BHEMB) boundary for new build council housing be approved.

2.    That the expenditure of an estimated £325,000 to fund the proposed acquisition and development works, using Housing Revenue Account capital funds, combined with proposed bidding for Community Housing Fund grant from Homes England be approved.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Service Director of City Housing, to agree the details of the proposed site acquisition costs and development, along with all ancillary legal agreements and contracts.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Service Director of City Housing, to substitute alternative sites within the Estate Management Board area should more viable options be identified.